Firing mechanism for percussively ignitable flashlamps

ABSTRACT

A SENSING AND FIRING MECHANISM FOR USE WITH PERCUSSIVELY IGNITABLE FLASHLAMPS, IN A MULTILAMP UNIT FOR FLASHCUBE, INCLUDES A CAMMING DEVICE FOR TEMPORARILY WITHDRAWING A SENSING AND ACTUATING MEMBER FROM THE UNIT UPON ROTATION OF THE UNIT. THE SENSING AND ACTUATING MEMBER IS MOVABLE INTO   THE UNIT TO SEQUENTIALLY SENSE THE CONDITION OF AN TO FIRE SUCCESSIVE FLASHLAMPS IN THE UNIT, AND THE CAMMING DEVICE INCLUDES A CAM ON A UNIT-RECEIVING SOCKET TO CAM THE ARM OUT OF THE UNIT WHEN THE SOCKET IS ROTATED.

United States Patent {72] inventor Edward Louis Sturm Rochester. N.Y.

[21] Appl No. 850,125

[22] Filed Aug. 14, 1969 [45] Patented June 28, 1971 [7 3] Assignee Eastman Kodak Company Rochester, N.Y.

[54] FIRING MECHANISM FOR PERCUSSIVELY IGNITABLE FLASHLAMPS 11 Claims, 12 Drawing Figs.

[52] 11.8. CI 431/93, 95/ l 1.5 [51] 1nt.Cl F2lk 5/02 [50] Field ofSearch ..43l/93-96 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,063,778 6/1913 Courson 431/98X 3,454,755 7/1969 Wick 240/13 3,351,158 5/1970 Kopelman .6 431/93 Primary Examiner-Edward J. Michael Attorneys- Robert W. Hampton and .l. Addison Mathews ABSTRACT: A sensing and firing mechanism for use with percussively ignitable flashlamps, in a multilamp unit or flashcube, includes a camming device for temporarily withdrawing a sensing and actuating member from the unit upon rotation of the unit. The sensing and actuating member is movable into the unit to sequentially sense the condition of and to fire successive flashlamps in the unit, and the camming device includes a cam on a unit-receiving socket to cam the arm out of the unit when the socket is rotated.

PATENIEoJuuzalsn $588,300

sum 1 OF 6 EDWARD L. STURM IN VENTOR.

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ATTORNEYS PATENTED JUN28 I971 SHEET 2 BF 6 EDWARD L. STURM INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEYS PATENTED JUN28 I971 SHEET [1F 6 FIG.9

EDWARD L. STURM INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS PATENIED JUH28 I97:

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ATTORNEYS FIRING MECHANISM FOR PERCUSSIVELY IGNITABLE FLASHLAMPS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION of and percussively firing percussively fireable flashlamps in a multilamp unit or flashcube.

It is well known in the photographic art to provide flash cameras with electrical means for firing flashlamps and for sensing the operative or inoperative condition of such flashlamps.

More recently, and in order to obviate the necessity for providing an electrical source and circuit in photofiash apparatus, a percussively ignitable fiashlamp has been developed. Corresponding in some respects to cameras using electrically fireable flashlamps, cameras adapted to receive the percussively ignitable flashlamps have been provided with mechanical means for firing the lamp and for sensing the operative or inoperative condition of the lamp. Such mechanical mechanisms are disclosed, for example, in commonly assigned, copending US. Pat. applications Ser. No. 766,751, entitled PERCUSSION-IGNITABLE FLASH UNIT HAVING CONTACT-ACTUATABLE, PREENERGIZED STRIKERS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS USING SUCH UNITS, filed on Oct. 11, 1968 in the name of Poweska et al.; Ser. No. 767,145, entitled CONTROL AND SIGNAL MECHANISM FOR USE WITH PERCUSSION-IGNITABLE PHOTOFLASHLAMPS, filed on Oct. 14, 1968 in the name of E. L. Sturm; and Ser. No. 850,701, entitled FLASH FIRING AND SENSING MECHANISM FOR CAMERA OR AT- TACHMENT ADAPTED TO USE PERCUSSIVELY FIREA- BLE FLASHLAMPS, filed concurrently herewith in the name of W. Horton and C. W. Michatek. In the Poweska et al. application, a camera actuating member, normally held in an energized position displaced from the fiashlamp, is released upon shutter actuation and rapidly moves into engagement with a pre-energized fiashlamp striker to dislodge the striker and fire the fiashlamp. In the Sturm application, actuation of the camera body release or shutter actuating mechanism moves a sensing and actuating probe into engagement with the preenergized striker in the fiashlamp first to sense the operative or inoperative condition of the fiashlamp and then to fire the fiashlamp. In the Horton and Michatek application, positioning of a fiashlamp on the camera automatically effects movement of a sensing and actuating arm into engagement with the preenergized striker and then actuation of the camera body release or shutter actuating mechanism effects firing of the fiashlamp.

Such previously known electrical and mechanical means for firing and sensing the condition of a fiashlamp on the camera have been generally satisfactory for their intended purpose, but have suffered from certain disadvantages. For example, and referring first to sensing mechanisms, presently known devices generally require actuation or partial actuation of some camera mechanism before sensing and signaling of the operative or inoperative condition of a fiashlamp is effected. In the aforementioned US. application Ser. No. 767,145, this sensing and signaling operation is initiated by depression of the camera body release or shutter actuating member. Such a mechanism is not only inconvenient but also may lead to the inadvertent actuation of the shutter before the camera operator recognizes the signal indicative of an inoperative fiashlamp.

Particular problems have been encountered with electrical sensing devices. Even aside from the inconvenience associated with the necessary batteries (such as their bulk in the camera, their variable voltage characteristics, and their irrepressible tendency to wear'out at the worst possible moment), electrical systems continue to deplete the electrical source as long as they remain in an energized condition. Unless they are energized only for brief periods of picture taking, an excessive draining of the powersupply will result. Thus, it has not been possible in previously known electrical sensing devices to provide satisfactory means for presenting a signal of an inoperative fiashlamp whenever and as long as the lamp is positioned on the camera.

By way of further background, various problems encountered in designing mechanical sensing systems also should be noted. For example, more recent flashlamps are contained in multilamp units or cubes rotatable relative to the camera for indexing respective ones of the'fiashlamps to a firing locus.

, Thus, the sensing means should not unduly interfere with such rotation. In fact, cube rotation has become a particularly difficult problem to overcome because (as disclosed in the above-mentioned Horton and Michatek application Ser. No. 850,701) the sensing and actuating member preferred for many purposes includes a camera member normally positioned within the interior of any fiashlamp unit received on the camera, and, unless this member is temporarily removed from the unit, rotation thereof is substantially prevented. A satisfactory sensing and actuating means also should be substantially indestructible, regardless of whether the fiashlamp unit is rotated automatically through some other camera function, or directly by hand, and regardless of the relative direction in which rotation is first attempted.

Referring now to mechanisms for firing percussive fiashlamps, previous camera mechanisms, such as that disclosed in aforementioned US. application Ser. No. 766,751, generally have utilized an actuating member rapidly movable from a first position, wherein the member is spaced from the lamp striker, to a second position, wherein the member engages and dislodges the striker. Such actuating members previously were considered necessary, for example, to assure withdrawal of the actuating member from the fiashlamp prior to indexing of flashlamps or rotation of the multilamp unit. However, more recently it has been found that the relatively long actuating stroke of such previous members makes it dif-" -ficult to control the force with which the actuating member impacts and dislodges the striker in the cube. Moreover, the rapid movement of actuating member must be accurately controlled to assure that the member will enter the relatively small opening in the cube base, and the cube must be securely secured to the camera to prevent unlatching therefrom or even undesirable movement thereof due to the relatively large impacting force required from such actuating means.

The above-mentioned Horton and Michatek application Ser. No. 850,701 discloses a mechanism that overcomes many of the above-mentioned problems by providing a sensing and actuating member normally urged into engagement with the striker wire of any flash unit positioned on the camera, but 7 which is cammed out of the unit by a portion of the unit itself when the same is rotated or indexed. However, even this mechanism has disadvantages at least under certain operating conditions. For example, while the sensing and' actuating member disclosed in said application has a relatively long.

lever arm, this is not always possible in more compact cameras, and, as the effective lever arm is made shorter to fit these more compact cameras, the sensing and actuating member presents increased interference to cube rotation. This is especially true because the camming surface on the flash unit and the following surface on the sensing and actuating member are not particularly efficient in their camming function. Moreover, significant upward and circumferential pressures are exerted on the cube itself and between the cube and socket during the camming operation, and, since the cube is only detachably received on the camera, any such pressure is undesirable. Still further, such a camming mechanism continuously engages the flash unit base during indexing or rotation of the unit and therefore requires a substantially smooth and uninterrupted lower base surface.

SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to overcome the above-noted problems encountered with previously known mechanisms and to provide an improved sensing and/or actuating mechanism which is simple but reliable in operation and which particularly is adapted for use with multilamp units supporting a plurality of flashlamps having preenergized striker wires for percussively firing such lamps.

It is further an object of the present invention to provide a mechanism of the aforementioned type that moves into a multilamp unit to sense the condition of a selected fiashlamp immediately upon the positioning of such fiashlamp at the forwardly facing position or firing locus, and to provide means for withdrawing the mechanism from the unit to permit indexing of the flashlamps without substantial interference.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism of the above-mentioned type that includes camming surfaces associated with a rotatable or indexable multiunit socket, and a cam follower cooperative with such camming surfaces to withdraw a sensing or actuating arm from the multilamp unit in response to rotation or indexing of the socket.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a camera or attachment is provided with a mechanism for sensing and/or firing a percussively ignitable fiashlamp device having a preenergized percussive striker and received in a multilamp unit or flashcube detachably positionable in a socket on the camera or attachment. The mechanism includes a member that automatically moves into such a unit positioned in the socket, thereby to sense the operative or inoperative condition ofa fiashlamp at the firing locus and without depending for its operation on actuation of other camera mechanisms such as the body release or shutter actuating member. The member further comprises an actuating means for dislodging the striker wire to fire the sensed fiashlamp and in this connection also is normally positioned within any such positioned in the socket. To permit indexing of the flash devices, or rotation of the multilamp unit, the socket is rotatable or indexable and is provided with associated camming surfaces engageable with or couplable to the sensing and actuating member to withdraw the member from the multilamp unit in response to rotation or indexing of the socket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multilamp flash unit on a camera incorporating the present invention and illustrates a camera sensing or actuating member in engagement with a preenergized striker wire in the flash unit, and a warning flag positionable by the sensing and actuating member.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view corresponding to FIG. 1 but illustrating a second embodiment of warning flag.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view ofa percussively ignitable flashcube adapted to be received on the camera of FIG. I, and ofa socket construction, for removably or detachably receiving such flashcube on the camera.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the flashcube of FIG. 3 with parts broken away to illustrate the interior of the cube including a fiashlamp having a percussion sensitive tube or anvil and a preenergized striker wire for percussively striking the tube or anvil.

FIG. 5 is a perspective and schematic view of a sensing and actuating mechanism for sensing the condition of and percussively firing a flashcube of the type illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, and further depicting the cube socket and associated mechanism for withdrawing the sensing and actuating mechanism from the cube upon socket indexing.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view corresponding to a portion of FIG. 5 but depicting such portion in a different position of rotation ofthe socket.

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the portion of the mechanism of FIG. 5 from a different angle to more clearly show the warning flag and its method of operation to present a signal visible, in the viewfinder whenever an inoperative fiashlamp is moved to the firing position.

FIG. 8 is a top'view of the camera of FIG. 1 with portions broken away to illustrate preferred film winding, cube advancing, and shutter driving mechanisms.

FIG. 9 is a front plan view of the camera of FIG. 1 with the casing removed to illustrate the operative positions of the sensing and firing mechanism in the positions they will assume prior to positioning a fiashlamp on the camera.

FIG. 10 is a front plan view corresponding to FIG. 9 but illustrating the mechanisms in the positions they will assume when a flashcube having an operative flash device in the forwardly facing or firing position is positioned on the camera.

FIG. 11 is a front plan view corresponding to FIG. 10 but illustrating the mechanisms in the positions they would assume if the fiashlamp in the firing position is inoperative.

FIG. 12 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5 but depicting a second embodiment of sensing and firing mechanism including the warning flag of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, a camera for incorporating a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated comprising a camera casing 10 supporting an objective 12, a body release or depression member 14 for effecting operation of shutter 15 (FIG. 5), a film-winding member 16 and a viewfinder 18. A percussively ignitable flashcube 20 is removably or detachably received on the camera for firing in synchronism with operation of the shutter 15.

General Camera Features The preferred body release or depression member 14 is most clearly illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 811 and comprises a depression or manually engageable surface 22, accessible from outside the camera casing 10, and an elongated or body portion 24 including a blocking surface such as latch 26 for maintaining an impacting member such as a shutter driver in a first latched and cocked or energized position. The body release or depression member is mounted within the camera casing by any suitable means such that depression of surface 22 effects movement of the blocking surface 26 to a position releasing the driver to actuate the camera shutter and various other camera mechanisms as will be described more fully hereinafter.

The shutter also is disclosed most clearly in FIGS. 5 and 8- -11 and, in the preferred embodiment, is of the single blade impact type having an aperture covering member such as blade 28 pivotally mounted in the camera or casing at 30. The

shutter is normally maintained in a closed position against a stop 32 by a hairpin spring or other energy means 34 engaging at one end a pin 36 secured to the camera casing and at the other end a catch 38 formed as part of the shutter blade 28. A portion of the shutter 15 on one side of the pivot point is adapted to cover the camera aperture when the shutter is in its closed position, while another shutter portion, on the other side of the pivot is provided with a striking abutment or lug 40 adapted to be engaged or struck by an impacting member or shutter driver as will be referred to more fully hereinafter.

Winding mechanism 16 is most clearly illustrated in FIG. 8 and preferably includes a rotatable or oscillatable handle and actuating member 42, a disc member 44 rotatably or indexably mounted in the camera and an abutment means or cocking projection 46 extending upwardly therefrom for engaging and setting or cocking various camera mechanisms. In a manner well known to those skilled in the art, the disc member 44 is operatively connectable on the side not shown to a film takeup spool, for example, in the takeup chamber of a film cartridge, and upon oscillation of member 42 advances film'through the camera and onto the takeup spool in the usual manner. Abutment means 46, on the other hand, is adapted to engage and rotate a spider setting wheel 48 to cock or set various camera operating mechanisms during film advance as described more fully in commonly assigned U.S. application Ser. No. 731,058, entitled FLASH CAMERA and filed in the name ofM. S. Montalto et al. on May 22, 1968.

Viewfinder 18 is of a usual type well known to those skilled in the art and comprises a front window or objective means 50, a back or eye piece window 52 and sufficient space therebetween for receiving a signal means such as a translucent warning flag to be described more fully hereinafter. Mechanically Fireable Flashlamp and Multilamp Unit Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4 and more particularly to the details of a multilamp flash unit or flashcube for supporting a plurality of flashlamp devices having preenergized strikers, the illustrated cube comprising a base 56 for supporting a plurality of percussively ignitable flash devices 58, reflecting means such as polished metal foil formed into concaved discs 60, a cover member of transparent material 62, and a support or indexing means such as post 64. Each flash device includes a flashlamp 66 and a pretensioned or preenergized striker 68 lodged over means in the cube base defining openings or slots 69 passing entirely through the base and into which a camera sensing or actuating member can be moved upwardly into contact with the striker wire to dislodge the same and fire the flashlamp. On one side of the base normally referred to as the upper face thereof, means are provided for securely supporting each of the flashlamps 66 and striker wires 68. As illustrated most clearly in FIG. 4, these means comprise a circular opening defining a bore 70 for receiving a portion of the flashlamp and slots 72 for receiving a knee portion of the striker wire. The upper face of base 56 also may be provided with a stop member for maintaining the striker wire 68 in its tensioned condition. However, in the embodiment illustrated, the function of this stop member is provided by a bent portion of the striker wire itself as will be described more fully hereinafter.

Each of the four flashlamps 66 comprises a hermetically sealed envelope 74 containing combustible material such as a zirconium foil in a combustion supporting atmosphere such as oxygen. The base or lower portion of envelope 74 is formed and sealed around an impact sensitive means such as an elongatedsoft or bendable tube 76 having a circular cross section and containing in spaced relation therein an anvil 77. In order to initiate combustion of the combustible material in envelope 74, a percussively ignitable material 80 is placed on anvil 78 or in the space between tube 76 and the anvil. Thus, tube 73 is adapted to be rapidly struck or impacted and deformed by a of the four corners of the external surface, locating means 94 are provided comprising a rib having a tapered lowered portion and a substantially square upper portion. As will be striker wire 68 to fire the percussive material within the tube.

Upon such firing the heat energy generated by ignition of the percussively ignitable material 80 conflagrates and is directed upwardly through the tube and into the envelope 74 to initiate combustion of the zirconium foil and thereby to fire the flashlamp. The lower or end portion of tube 76 further is shaped to cooperate with the circular hole or bore 70 defined in base 56 to securely support the flashlamp on the base.

The striker wire 68 is shown most clearly in FIG. 4 and comprises an elongate or striking leg 78 an upwardly bent central portion 80 adapted to be torsionally bent to energize the striking leg, a knee 82 for engaging the cube base to locate the striking wire on the base, and a second elongate leg including a bent end portion defining a stop 84 for maintaining the striking leg in the tensioned position. The elongate striking leg 78 is lodged and maintained by stop 84 over opening 69 in the base and is adapted to be engaged by the camera sensing or actuating member as previously mentioned to first sense the condition or position of the striker wire and thereafter to rapidly push or dislodge the striking leg upwardly over its respective stop 84 to release the striker and effect firing of the flashlamp.

The support or indexing means 64 is located on the other or lower face 86 of base 56 from the flash devices and may be separately attached or integrally molded thereto. 1n the illustrated embodiment, the support or indexing means 64 includes a channel member 88 defining a square interior opening 90 and a substantially square external surface 92. At each described more fully hereinafter in connection with .the camera socket, the ribs are first guided into the socket by the tapered portions until they are fully seated therein and then are held or maintained securely in their proper position relative to the socket by the upper square portions. Also provided on the outer surfaces of channel member 88 and between the ribs 94 are recessed or slot portions having a slightly tapered or inclined or lowered surface 96 for cooperating with the socket latching means also to be described more fully hereinafter.

Socket for Receiving Multilamp Unit Referring now to a preferred embodiment of socket depicted most clearly in FIGS. 3 and 5, a cylindrical member 100 is illustrated defining a socket base 102 and walls 104 extending upwardly therefrom to define exterior surfaces 106 andinterior surfaces 108. Extending upwardly from the interior portions of base 102 are a square post member 110 adapted to cooperate with the internal surfaces 90 of the cube channel member 64 and a plurality of flexible fingers 112 adapted to cooperate with the latching surfaces 96 on the exterior portion 92 of the channel member 64. Also extending in substantially the same direction as post 110 and fingers 112 are channel defining means such as splines 114 adapted to cooperate with the cube ribs 94 to accurately and securely maintain the cube in a predetermined position of orientation in the socket. These splines are thin walled and flexible to compensate for manufacturing tolerances in molding the socket for example, if the socket splines and/or cube ribs are not exactly located at 90 from each other, the splines still can flex somewhat to receive the cube in a proper manner. Moreover, if desired, the socket splines can be formed purposefully to flex outwardly and pinch the cube ribs to even more securely hold and locate the cube in the socket even when the manufacturing tolerances are accurate.

The external surfaces 106 of the socket are provided or attached to camming means 116 having a steeply inclined surface 118 on at least one side thereof, for a purpose to be described more fully hereinafter in connection with the present invention, and abutment or indexing means 119 adapted to cooperate with socket indexing means as'also will be described more fully hereinafter.

Upon inserting a flashcube into the socket, the aligning post 110 in the socket engages the interior 96 of cube channel member 64 to initially align the cube relative to the socket and to insure that the cube is oriented in a proper angular relationship with respect to the socket. Similarly, the lower or tapered portions of ribs 94 engage and initially orient the cube within the socket splines 114. As the cube further is pushed to its final position in the socket, the central socket post 110 engages interior portions of the cube channel member 64 to prevent tilting of the cube relative to the socket, and the upper or square portions of ribs 94 engaged and closely cooperate with the internal surfaces of the socket to accurately and securely orient the cube. Also during the final stages of cube positioning, the socket latching fingers 112 engage the cube latching surfaces 96 to securely but releasably hold or maintain the cube in the socket. As described more fully in U.S. Pat. No. 3,407,717, issued on Oct. 29, 1968 in the name of P. J. Ernisse, these latching fingers further may be provided with cam or tapered end surfaces for biasing the cube downwardly into the socket.

For a purpose to be described more fully hereinafter, in connection with FIG. 5, the socket post 110 further includes means defining cut out sections or slots 120 passing entirely through the post to a hollow post interior or bore (not shown). This interior is adapted to slidably receive a cube sensing member or T-bar 121 having a body portion 122 and an upper end or portion 124 including cub'e engageable blades or flanges 126. In an assembled condition, blades 126 extend from the post interior through slots 120 and into the socket interior where they will be engaged by the cube channel member 64 when the cube is positioned in the socket. Normally, the T-bar is resiliently biased to a first or raised position and is cammed or pushed downwardly to a second and lowered or retracted position upon positioning of a cube in the socket thereby to set or adjust certain camera mechanisms as will be described more fully hereinafter in connection with such mechanisms. Film Winding, Mechanisms Referring now particularly to FIG. 8, various preferred camera operating mechanisms are disclosed for use with the present invention, including film-winding, cube indexing and shutter driving mechanisms. These mechanisms, some of which have been briefly mentioned hereinbefore, are well known to those skilled in the art. Briefly, however, they include an impacting member or shutter driver 129, the spider member 48 and an indexing slide 131. The impacting or driving member 129 comprises a main body portion 132 pivotally mounted within the camera casing and a leg or extension including a latching surface 134 adapted to be engaged by the body release to latch the shutter driver in a cocked position, and a driving surface 136 adapted to engage or rapidly-strike the shutter blade to drive the blade to an open position. Indexing mechanism 131, on the other hand, includes an elongated body member 138 mounted on the camera for reciprocation relative thereto, an abutment surface 140 adapted to be engaged by the spider member to reciprocate the body member 138, and a spring member 142 including a bent portion 144 for engaging the indexing surfaces of the socket to index the socket upon reciprocation of the body member 138. Additional socket locating means or spring 146 also may be provided for positively maintaining the socket in its indexed condition and for resiliently urging the socket in its indexed condition and for resiliently urging the socket towards its indexing position after the socket has been rotated by more than 45. In operation, these various camera mechanisms are set or cocked, for example, by oscillation of winding member 42, which in turn rotates disc 44 and abutment surface 46. As the abutment surface rotates it will move into engagement with a first or cocking arm 148 of the spider member 48 to rotate the spider member in a clockwise direction and to cock the shutter driver 129 through a second arm 150 of the spider member. Similarly, clockwise rotation of the spider member effects engagement between the third arm 152 thereof and the Cube Indexing and Shutter Driving body member 138 of the cube indexing mechanism to slide the body member to the right as viewed in FIG. 8 and index the cube socket. The camera is now ready or set and cocked to expose film in the camera by depression of the body release 14 to release or unlatch the shutter driver. Upon such release the shutter driver rapidly moves in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 9 and strikes or impacts the shutter blade 28 to rapidly open the blade against the force of the shutter return spring 34. The shutter blade then rotates in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 9 until its direction of movement is reversed either by the return spring or a stop such as abutment 252, at which time the hairpin spring again brings the blade to its closed position over the camera aperture. The speed, or amount of time during which the aperture is opened, is determined by the resiliency of the return spring 34 and/or the position of a stop to be described hereinafter. Upon movement of the shutter driver to strike the shutter blade, as described above, the third arm 152 of the spider member also moves in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 8) to permit the cube indexing mechanism 131 or body member 138 thereof to return to its original position wherein it is again ready to index the cube by 90 upon further film wind. Flashlamp Sensing and Firing Mechanism Referring now more particularly to the details of the present invention, and to FIGS. 5 and 6, the cube firing mechanism includes the previously mentioned sensing and releasing means or T-bar 121, a bell or latching and setting member 203, a sensing or actuating member 205, a camming or retracting mechanism 207, a signal mechanism 209, shutter speed changing means 211, and a striking arm or lever 213.

As will be described more fully hereinafter, these mechanisms are maintained in inactive positions (most clearly illustrated in FIG. 9) prior to positioning of the cube on the camera. However, for present purposes the mechanism will be described in connection with FIGS. 5 and 6 which illustrate these mechanisms in the positions they will assume after a cube having an operative striker wire at the firing locus has been positioned on the camera.

As briefly mentioned hereinbefore, the T-bar or releasing mechanism 121 comprises an elongate cylindrical body portion 122, an upper end portion 124 including outwardly extending fins 126 defining the cross of the T-bar and a lower portion including an abutment surface 215 adapted to engage the bell or setting member 203 as will be described more fully hereinafter. Prior to positioning of the cube on the camera the T-bar is maintained in an upper or raised position within the socket post and is moved to a lowered or releasing position by engagement between the cube indexing member 64 and the fins 126 of the T-bar when the cube is inserted into the socket.

Bell or setting member 203 is mounted within the camera, for example, by means ofa mechanism plate 217, and includes a central portion 219 having suitable means 221 mounting the member for pivotal movement between a first clockwise and latching position and a second counterclockwise and unlatching or releasing position. One end of the member 203 is provided with a projection or abutment 223 adapted to be engaged by the lower end 215 of the T-bar as described above for rotating the setting member to its counterclockwise and releasing position when a cube is positioned on the camera. The other end or leg of setting member 203 is provided with a bent lug 225 supporting a resilient means or spring 227, and an abutment surface 229 for articulate coupling of the setting member to camming or retracting mechanism 207. When no cube is positioned on the camera, spring 227 serves to maintain both the setting member 203 in its clockwise and latching position and the T-bar in its raised or extended position (FIG. 9).

The camming or retracting mechanism 207 also is mounted on mechanism plate 217 and is provided with a central portion 230 including suitable means 232 for pivotally mounting the mechanism within the camera. A first end or leg 234 of the camming or retracting mechanism is provided with a surface 236, or other means defining an articulate connection with the setting member 203, while a second end leg or arm 238 of the camming and retracting mechanism includes a camming surface or extension 240, adapted to be received in and follow the camming means 118 of the socket, and an abutment surface 241 adapted to engage sensing and actuating member 205. As will become more apparent hereinafter, the camming mechanism is movable between a first or retracted positions and second or extended positions either in response to movement of the socket and its cam surfaces 118 or in response to movement of the setting member 203.

The shutter speed changing mechanism 211 is pivotally mounted within the camera casing at 242 by suitable means and includes a lever 244 provided with a first leg 246 having a cutout portion or slot 248 adapted to receive the bent lug 225 of the bell or setting member 203. The other leg 250 of the speed changing lever includes an abutment or stop 252 (FIG. 10) briefly mentioned hereinabove and adapted in one position to be engaged by the shutter blade to provide one speed of shutter operation. In another or second position of the speed changing lever, the stop 252 is moved to a position where it will not be engaged by the shutter blade to provide the other or a different speed of shutter operation. As will become more apparent hereinafter, the speed changing lever is moved between its respective positions by bell or setting and latching member 203 and in response to the positioning (or removal) ofa flashcube in the socket.

The sensing or actuating member 205 includes an elongated body portion 254 including first and second pins 256, 257 received through slots 258 in the mechanism plate and mounting the member for longitudinal or sliding movement relative to the mechanism plate and camera body. Moreover, one of these pins 257 further is adapted to be engaged by striking lever 213 to effect firing of a flashlamp as will be described more fully hereinafter. At an upper portion of theactuating member, first and second legs 261 and 263, and an abutment surface 264, are provided respectively for engaging a bent leg of the signal mechanism 209, for engaging and dislodging a striker wire 78 in the flashcube, and for engaging the camming mechanism 207.

Signal mechanism 209 comprises a signal or flag 262 and an articulate linkage 265 for coupling the flag to the sensing and actuating member 205 and for pivotally mounting the flag, for example, on the mechanism plate. At one end, the articulate connection includes a bent leg 266 adapted to engage the first leg 261 of the sensing or actuating member, while-the other end of the connection includes a forked leg 267 for receiving a crank member member 269 of flag 262. In operation the flag is movable between a first or retracted position, to which it normally is urged by spring 270 (FIG. 7), and a second position in which it extends into view in the camera viewfinder. In this second position the warning flag is intended to signal the camera operator and warn him of the fact that the flashlamp in the firing position is inoperative, for example, because it has already been fired.

Striking lever 213 is mounted on the mechanism plate 217 or within the camera casing by means of a pivot pin 271 extending through a central portion of striking lever to pivotally mount the lever on the mechanism plate. One end portion of the striking lever includes a bent camming armor striking surface 273 adapted to be impacted or driven by a hammer member 275 of the shutter driver and a resilient spring 276 for normally urging the lever in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 5). The other end of the striking lever defines a leg 277 adapted to contact the pin 257 of the actuating member to effect rapid movement of the actuating lever to a raised position for dislodging the cube striking wire 78 and firing the cube. Operation of Sensing and Firing Mechanism Referring now to the above described mechanisms FIG. 9 illustrates such mechanisms in the positions they will assume prior to operating the camera without a flashlamp. As illustrated in FIG. 9 the bell or setting or latching lever 203 is maintained in its clockwise and latching position by relatively strong spring 227. In this position one end of the lever maintains T-bar 121 in its extended or raised position within the cube while the other end of the lever holds or latches the camming mechanism 207 in its counterclockwise or withdrawn position. Similarly, the camming mechanism 207 blocks movement of the actuating and sensing arm 205 at the point of engagement 264 and thereby holds the arm in a lowered'or retracted position wherein the arm is'enclosed entirely within the camera casing. With the arm in this lowered or retracted position the pin member 257 thereon secures the striking lever 213 in a most counterclockwise or inactive position wherein it will not be impacted or engaged by the hammer 275 upon shutter actuation. The first leg portion of the sensing and actuating member will maintain the signal or flag 262 in a raised position out of view in the camera viewfinder. Moreover, so long as the bell or setting and actuating lever 203 is maintained in this clockwise position, it 'will hold the shutter speed changing lever 211 in its most clockwise position wherein the abutment or stop 252 thereon will be engaged by the shutter upon actuation of the shutter to expose film in the camera. Thus, the shutter will have a somewhat faster speed upon actuation than it normally would have if the Y speed were determined only by return spring 34.

FIG. 10 illustrates the various sensing and actuating mechanisms in the positions they will assume when a flashcube is positioned on the camera and the forwardly facing flashlamp thereof is in an operative condition. In this instance the cube has engaged T-bar 121 to move the T-bar to a lowered or retracted position, thereby rotating the bell or setting or latching lever 203 in a counterclockwise direction to release the camming mechanism 207 and sensing or actuating arm 205. Thereupon the sensing and actuating arm moves to its raised or extended position in engagement with a preenergized striker wire 78 associated with the forwardly facing flashlamp. With movement of the sensing and actuating arm to the raised position the flag linkage 264 will pivot the flags somewhat toward the lowered or retracted position thereof. However, such pivotal movement will not be sufficient to position the flag where it would be visible in the camera viewfinder. Similarly, the striking lever 213 follows pin 257 and moves in a counterclockwise direction until the striking or camming surface 273 thereof is positioned at a location where it will be impacted 'or struck by the hammer member 275 on the shutter driver when such driver is released to open the shutter and expose film in the camera. Thus, as the shutter driver is rapidly moved to its second or released position, it will synchronously strike the shutter blade to effect an exposure, and also will strike the camming or striking surface 273 to rapidly raise the sensing and-actuating arm to its most extended position to thereby dislodge the striker wire and effect percussive firing of the forwardly facing flashlamp. To prevent undesirable tilting of the flashlamp by the upward actuating force at one side of the multilamp unit, the camera casing 10 may be provided adjacent an opposite side of the unit with a lug 278 for engaging the base and counterbalancing the actuating force. Moreover, with the bell or sensing and latching lever 203 in this counterclockwise position the shutter speed changing lever 211 will be rotated to move stop 252 to its second or inoperative position where it will not be engaged by the shutter blade upon actuation thereof. Therefore, the shutter speed will be adjusted to a longer cycle determined entirely by return spring 34 when a cube is positioned on the camera.

Referring now to FIG. 11 the sensing and actuating mechanisms are illustrated in the positions they will assume when a cube is positioned on the camera with a forwardly facing flashlamp which is inoperative'for example, because the striker wire already has been released to fire the lamp. In this case the sensing and actuating member 205 has been released to move to its raised position as set forth above, but will move to an even further or overextended position beyond where it ordinarily would engage the preenergized striker. In this position of the sensing arm the first leg 261 thereof will move the signal or flag 262 even further into the viewfinder where it will be visible by the camera operator to warn of an inoperative flashlamp. Moreover, the striking or cam surface 273 of striker lever 213 will be moved to an even further counterclockwise position where it again will not be engaged by hammer member 275 of the shutter driver when such driver is released to expose film in the camera.

After firing of a flashlamp the camera is prepared for the next picture taking operation by winding of film as set forth hereinabove in connection with FIGS. 1 and 8. Upon such film winding the flashcube socket is rotated to position the next flashlamp in the forwardly facing position or firing locus. In order to permit such rotation, it is necessary to withdraw the sensing and actuating finger from the cube and this is accomplished as illustrated in FIG. 6 by engagement between the camming surfaces 118 on the socket and the cam follower or projection 240 of camming mechanism 207. Such engagement and rotation of the socket will cam or force the camming mechanism, and along with it the sensing and actuating member, to a lowered position below the cube base. The

sensing and actuating member will remain in this lowered.

position as the cube and socket are rotated until the next flashlamp is positioned in the firing locus, at which time the camming surfaces 118 again permit the camming mechanism and sensing and actuating arm to moveupwardly into engagementwith the next preenergized striker wire.

Referring now to FIG. 12 a second embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated which is similar in many respects to the first described embodiment. The similar features have been labeled with reference numerals corresponding to the first embodiment but with a prime superscript. Various different features, on the other hand, have been labeled with numerals in a 400 series.

Referring only to the more important differences between this and the previous embodiment, the striker lever 213', instead of being struck or impacted by the shutter driver, is released by movement of the driver, and moves under the action of a relatively strong resilient or spring member 401 to effect firing of the flashlamp. More specifically, cocking of the shutter driver rotates the striking lever 213 through a wire 403 to a cocked position where it is latched by a retaining member 405. Then when the driver member is released, a portion 407 thereof will strike the retaining member to release the striking lever, whereupon the lever will be rapidly moved or rotated in a counterclockwise direction by spring member 401. As the lever rotates, its leg 277' will engage and move the sensing and actuating member 205 upwardly to dislodge striker wire 78' and thereby fire the flashlamp. While various other aspects of this embodiment also may differ somewhat from the previously described embodiment, the operation thereof should be apparent from the previous description and therefore will not be further described here.

It now should be apparent that the present invention provides an improved sensing, firing and indexing mechanism, for use with percussively fireable flashlamps in a multilamp unit or flashcube. The mechanism permits use of a sensing and/or actuating member having a normally raised position within the flashlamp unit whenever the unit is received on the camerayet the member automatically is withdrawn from, and may be repositioned within the unit in response to indexing of the flashlamps and without substantial interference with such indexing. Moreover, such withdrawal of the member occurs without substantial engagement between the member and the base of the flash unit, and, therefore, does not cause or effect substantial and normally undesirable forces or stresses on the unit either in an upward direction, tending to dislodge the unit from the camera, or in directions in the plane ofindexing rotation. Still further, the mechanism is susceptible to use in more compact cameras, and may be provided with a relatively efficient camming mechanism (for example, including a rollertype cam follower) to even further reduce any interference with flashlamp indexing or film winding. Other and further advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art and from the foregoing description and attached illustrations.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.

1 claim:

1. For use with a flash unit having a plurality of percussively fireable lamps; each lamp having a striking element movable from a preenergized position to a striking position for firing its respective lamp, and means defining an opening providing access to each striking element in its preenergized position, a photographic apparatus comprising:

a rotatable socket for receiving said unit with one of said lamps located in a predetermined position relative to the apparatus;

means, movable through an access opening, for sensing the presence or absence of a striker in its preenergized position;

means responsive to said sensing means for indicating the presence or absence of a striker in a preenergized position; and

means in said photographic apparatus responsive to rotation of said socket for removing said sensing means from said opening during rotation of said socket.

2. A photographic apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a flash lamp unit having a plurality of mechanically actuatable flash lamps, said means being rotatable to a plurality of positions to index the lamps of said unit sequentially to a firing position;

an actuating finger movable from a first position to a second position;

means for urging said actuating finger from said first position toward said second position;

means blocking movement of said finger from said first position to said second position;

means responsive to receipt of a flash unit by said receiving means for disabling said blocking means thereby permitting movement of said finger toward said second position;

indicating means responsive to the position of said finger for indicating whether or not said finger is in said second position; and

control means coupled to said receiving means and responsive to the rotation thereof for moving said finger toward its first position during indexing rotation of said receiving means and for permitting movement of said finger toward said second position when a new lamp has been indexed to said firing position.

3. For use with a flash unit having a plurality of percussively fireable lamps, each lamp having an individual striking element movable from a preenergized position to a striking position for firing its respective lamp and means defining an opening providing access to each striking element in its preenergized position, a photographic apparatus comprising:

a rotatable socket for receiving said unit;

means defining a cam surface rotatable with said socket;

means for rotating said socket to index the lamps in said flash unit sequentially to a firing position;

means, movable through the access opening for one of said striking elements, for sensing the presence or absence of a striking element in its preenergized position;

indicating means responsive to said sensing means for indicating the presence or absence of a striker in said preenergized position; and

means driven by said cam surface for removing said sensing means from said opening during rotation of said socket.

4. For use with a flash unit having a plurality of percussively fireable lamps, each lamp having its individual striking element movable from a preenergized position to a striking position for firing its respective lamp and means defining an opening providing access to each striking element in its preenergized position, photographic apparatus comprising:

a rotatable socket for receiving said unit with one of said lamps located in a predetermined position;

means for rotating said socket to index said lamps sequentially to said predetermined position;

sensing means movable into said opening in said unit for sensing the presence or absence of a striker in its preenergized position;

means defining a cam surface integral with said socket and rotatable therewith; and

means coupling said cam surface with said sensing means to retract said sensing means from said opening during rotation of said socket as controlled by said cam surface and to allow movement of said sensing means through the access opening of the striking element of the next lamp when said next lamp is indexed to said predetermined position.

5. Apparatus for use with a flash unit having a plurality of lamps, each lamp having an individual striker movable from a preenergized position to a striking position for firing said lamp, said apparatus comprising:

a socket for receiving and retaining the unit, said socket being rotatable to successively position said lamps at a firing locus;

an actuating finger;

means for urging said finger toward the preenergized position of the striker of a lamp at said firing locus at least when said unit is retained by said retaining means; and

means defining a cam surface rotatable with said socket for controlling the position of said finger according to the rotational position of said socket, said cam surface being shaped to permit engagement of said finger with a striker when a lamp is at said firing locus and to move said finger away from said striker against said urging means when said socket is being rotated to position a new lamp at said firing locus.

6. Apparatus for use with a flash unit having a plurality of lamps, each lamp having an individual striker movable from a preenergized position to striking position for firing said lamp, said apparatus comprising:

a socket for receiving and retaining said unit, said socket being rotatable to successively position said lamps at a firing locus;

an actuating finger;

means for urging said finger toward the preenergized position of the striker of a lamp in said firing locus at least when said unit is retained by said retaining means;

indexing means in said apparatus for rotating said socket to position a new lamp at said firing locus; and

means coupled to said indexing means for moving said finger in opposition to said urging means during rotation of said socket.

7. Apparatus for use with a flash unit having a plurality of lamps, each lamp having an individual striker movable from a preenergized position to a striking position for firing said lamp, said apparatus comprising:

a socket for receivingand retaining the unit, said socket being rotatable to successively position said lamps at a firing locus;

an actuation finger;

means for urging said finger toward the preenergized position of the striker of a lamp at said firing locus at least when said units are retained by said retaining means; and

means in said apparatus responsive to rotation or said socket for moving said finger in opposition to said urging means during rotation of said socket.

8. Apparatus for use with a flash unit having a plurality of lamps, each lamp having an individual striker movable from a preenergized position to a striking position for firing said lamp, said apparatus comprising:

a socket for receiving and retaining the unit, said socket being rotatable to successively position saidlamps at a firing locus;

a sensing finger for sensing the presence or absence in the preenergized position of a striker of one of the lamps of said unit;

means for urging said sensing finger toward said preenergized position;

indicating means responsive to said sensing finger for indicating the presence or absence of a striker in said preenergized position; and

means defining a cam surface rotatable with said socket for controlling the position of said finger according to the rotational position of said socket, said cam surface being shaped to permit said sensing at said preenergized position when a lamp is at said firing locus and to move said finger away from said preenergized position. against said urging means when said socket is being rotated to position a new lamp at said firing locus.

9. Apparatus for use with a flash unit having a plurality of lamps, each lamp having an individual striker movable from a preenergized position to a striking position for firing said lamp, said apparatus comprising:

a socket for receiving said unit, said socket being rotatable to index the lamps in said unit sequentially to a firing position;

means for actuating a lamp positioned at said firing position;

and

means coupled to said socket for control by the rotational position of said socket, for removing said actuating member from the location of a preenergized striker as said socket is rotated to place a lamp in said firing position and to replace said actuating means in contact with a preenergized striker when anew lamp is placed in said firing position. l0. Photographic apparatus for use with a multilamp flash unit; the unit having a substantially flat base supporting a plurality of percussively fireable flash lamps, and preenergized strikers each individually releasable to fire a respective flash lamp; the base having means defining a plane and further defining apertures in the base through which the preenergized strikers are engageable to be released, the apparatus comprising:

means for detachably receiving the multilamp unit on the apparatus, the unit being rotatable relative to the apparatus and about an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the base, thereby to index respective ones of the flash lamps to a predetermined firing locating on the apparatus; an actuating member engageable with the striker wire of a respective one of the flash lamps at the firing location and for releasing the striker wire and firing the flash lamp; means for normally urging said member through an aperture in the unit base when a flash unit is positioned on the camera, and for effecting engagement between said member and the preenergized striker of the flash lamp at the firing location; and a control mechanism responsive to said indexing means and coupled to said actuating member for withdrawing said member from the aperture in the unit base when the base is rotated, said member being withdrawn by said mechanism in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the base and before the member and the means defining the aperture are moved into substantial engagement by such rotation. l1. Photographic apparatus for use with a flash unit removably receivable on the apparatus, the unit comprising a base supporting a plurality of percussively fireable flash devices and means defining openings in the base through which the flash devices are fireable, the apparatus comprising: means for indexably receiving the flash devices to locate respective ones of the flash lamps at a firing position; an actuating member movable into the unit through an opening in the unit base and for engaging and firing the flash device at the firing position; and a control mechanism responsive to indexing of said flash devices and coupled to said actuating member, said mechanism first withdrawing said member from an opening in the base when a respective one of the flash devices is indexed from the firing position and then returning the member through an opening in the base and into the unit when another respective flash device is indexed to the firing position, said member being withdrawn without substantial engaging force between the member and the means defining the openings in the base. 

